Splintered

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Tempt Not A Desperate Man

The beast was out of his cage, gnawing wildly at the hand that once fed him.

Danger, mixed with abject hatred, rolled off Snow like steam unfurling from a kettle on the verge of boiling. His gloved grip on the couch was sealed tight. The leather was stretching and cracking under the pressure.

His jaw was equally as strained, like the heavy chains that secured a load of lumber, barely holding back the immense weight.

On-screen, the pink-haired reporter was peppering Augustus with superfluous questions, but it was like white noise, drowned out in the wake of the drastic announcement.

She was listening but hardly hearing. Snow was staring at the television like he wanted to embed an axe in its center. Despite his intensity, she suspected he was just as disengaged as she was.

"Someone slipped his leash." Hazel eased her voice into the space between them.

He turned his frozen irises toward her, the look dropping the temperature of the blood in her veins. "Hardly the first time my trust was misplaced."

A wave of conflicted guilt coated her nerves. "Is this because of Mayor Shepherd?"

"Perhaps," Snow exhaled. "But Augustus has always been ambitious."

What had she started?

Clearing her throat did little to make her voice sound confident, "Was this what you were going to tell me?"

An abrupt, thunderous knock made her nearly jump out of her ridiculous heels.

Festus peeked into the room, his eyes clearer than they had been before. "Coryo, the press is about to break down the doors of this train."

Snow ran a hand over his face, his tone frigid, "Keep them out of here, Fest. I will give a statement when I am ready."

Festus nodded, casting a quick look at Hazel. Giving her almost a wince-like smile, he left them alone once again.

"No," Snow breathed.

Hazel swiveled to face him. "No, what?"

"I suspected Augustus was about to betray me, but..." Sending another frosty glare at the television, he clarified, "That is not what I need to tell you." He searched each of her eyes separately as if pressing the point. "It is time you knew why."

A soft scoff slid from her nostrils. "Which, why?"

"The one that matters most."

Her heart floundered, eyelashes fluttering as she processed his words.

Was he being serious?

Was he really going to tell me the whole truth?

Snow released his stranglehold on the couch, "This is not exactly how I wanted to do this, but..." He sent another searing look at the television. "My options are suddenly limited."

Hazel chewed on the inside of her cheek. "I think I am hallucinating again. Or maybe dreaming..."

Snow suddenly smirked as if he couldn't help himself, "Would you prefer that?"

A rosy tinge spread over her face and neck as she wrapped her arms protectively around herself, "Why am I really here, Coriolanus?"

His name sobered him. "Have you ever heard the phrase: two are better than one, Miss Marlowe?"

Hazel emptied her lungs in an exasperated sigh, briefly closing her eyes. "I should have known you wouldn't make this simple or straightforward."

"Name of my autobiography, remember?" He teased for a second before the seriousness resettled on his face. "Now, answer my question."